Structure and mechanism of Staphylococcus aureus TarM, the wall teichoic acid α-glycosyltransferase.

ABSTRACT: Unique to Gram-positive bacteria, wall teichoic acids are anionic glycopolymers cross-stitched to a thick layer of peptidoglycan. The polyol phosphate subunits of these glycopolymers are decorated with GlcNAc sugars that are involved in phage binding, genetic exchange, host antibody response, resistance, and virulence. The search for the enzymes responsible for GlcNAcylation in Staphylococcus aureus has recently identified TarM and TarS with respective α- and β-(1-4) glycosyltransferase activities. The stereochemistry of the GlcNAc attachment is important in balancing biological processes, such that the interplay of TarM and TarS is likely important for bacterial pathogenicity and survival. Here we present the crystal structure of TarM in an unusual ternary-like complex consisting of a pol

SUBMITTER: Sobhanifar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4330757 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature